India concerned over abduction of 3 Indians in Mali amid attacks by al-Qaeda affiliate

The Indian nationals working at the Diamond Cement Factory at Kayes in Mali were abducted on July 1, when armed assailants carried out a coordinated attack on the facility, the external affairs ministry said.

No one has claimed responsibility yet for the kidnappings.

Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks on military posts across Mali on Tuesday. Mali’s armed forces killed 80 fighters while responding to the simultaneous attacks.

Many military and government installations at multiple locations in western and central Mali were attacked by terrorists on July 1, the external affairs ministry said.